I talk to Cisco Adler about his new album Aloha:

“This record was made for people who want to live life to the fullest.”

[By Monica Harris]

CISCO ADLER is a busy man.  In 2008 he teamed up with Shwayze and their single “Corona and Lime” peaked at number 23 on the Billboard charts. They produced 3 albums together and Adler went on to produce for/ collaborate with Mike Posner, Yelawolf, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Jon, Mod Sun, and many others, which secured his position as a respected hip-hop/pop producer.

This October 23, Adler brings us his first solo LP Aloha which gives us personal insight into the musician’s present state of mind. “This record was made for people who want to live life to the fullest,” he says. I talk to Adler about Aloha and love and happiness.

Q. I would describe your music as “sunny California music.” What do you think defines California music?

A: I think we’re all just victims of our environment. So luckily mine is California and it seeps its way into my music.  I don’t even know what it is. It’s definitely not something I set out to do, but I think that’s the cool thing about bands and where they come from, is they definitely sound like where they were born. So I guess it sounds like me. [Laughs.]

Q. Some may not know you lived most of your childhood in Hawaii. What kind of things did you do as a child? Were you into surfing?

A:  Oh yeah, I would go to school with no shoes on, come home, and go straight into the water until the sun went down. Surfing, swimming in waterfalls, picking mushrooms. It was just a beautiful life.

Q. Do you go back there a lot?

A:  Not as much as I want.  I’m very busy but whenever I get a break I try to get out there, but it’s not as much as I’d like.

Q. You are now a married man. Do you think that being married and settled down has influenced your music in any way?

A: I think that my state of mind, and finding happiness, I think, has definitely found its way into my music. You never know it when you’re writing it or creating it, but then you look back in a little bit and you realize, it’s very indicative of a stage of your life, you know? Personally.  However, how other people take [my music] is very different and relates to what’s going on in their life. But for me, I look back, and I’m like “Okay, I guess this is the stage of love and happiness.”

Q. Do you plan to record again with Shwayze?

A: Yeah, of course. Yeah we will. I think after 3 albums it was time to be individuals for a little bit. I think for me, after producing music for so many people and working on so many different projects, it was time for me to take a break and do some music for myself, and show people what my record would sound like.

Q. You have a song called “You’re a Fool.” Who was the inspiration behind that song? Was it aimed at someone in particular?

A: You know it was definitely autobiographical. I’ve been a fool at many times in my life, and it’s kind of like, when I come across a fool, I don’t blame ‘em. I give them time to wake up. But hopefully that song is a little wake up call.

Q.  What changes do you see coming in the music industry in the future, as far as musical styles?

A: I think we just came out of, or we’re on the edge of, the super EDM craze that just took over the world. And I think what happens whenever a cycle comes in, is that people start really wanting to hear organic instruments and classic songwriting and melody. Because it’s been so over-produced and sort of shot up with steroids. And I think that has to do with a lot of things. It’s like, if there’s a recession, people want to eat hamburgers. You know what I mean? I think we’ve been getting a lot of hamburgers. And now it’s time to get some organic, good food.  Adele definitely came out and changed the way the industry was searching for the next big thing, and I think now they’re looking for, to hear some organic melodies and musicianship. I look at it like, you need a breath of fresh air. It’s fun to party all night but when you wake up in the morning you want to relax. I know, my friends in Europe – obviously the whole dance craze came from there – but they’re telling me, it’s funny, but people are starting to listen to summertime, breezy, sort of acoustic music over there. And they were sort of the first ones to project the dance craze thing. So I think we’re on the border right now. We’re going to see what the next trends are soon.

Q. What music are you into right now? Any favorite albums?

A: I’m usually listening to oldies and digging in the crates if I’m not creating music. But I just got out of the studio with a kid named Tayyib Ali, out of Philly, who is incredible and I’m really excited about his music. And Mod Sun, I just did an EP with him, and he just did Warp Tour and is blowing up. So I’m excited about the young cats who are next.  I think it’s really exciting times for music. What I don’t like is when, a trend is so quick in certain circles, and they go, “Okay now its trap music.” And then all you hear is every song is a trap song. So I hope that changes. I want to hear an artist that sounds like an original artist. I don’t want to hear an artist that sounds like “what’s hot.”

Q. In the past you’ve been in the news because of your personal life. Is there anything you wish people knew about you?

A: Not anymore. I think I put my head down, and I just try to make good music and hopefully that’s what gets to people and that’s what people know me for.  And I’m seeing that, so that makes me happy. ~

For more on Cisco Adler and Aloha, including tour dates visit www.ciscoadlerpresents.com